Page 28 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ANGLICAN CHURCH

languishing in prison could do nothing to assist their the bread and wine. Episcopal priests believe they are
destitute families. somehow offering the sacrifice of Christ in their
The long arm of the Anglican Church also brought Eucharist. “Q. Why is the Eucharist called a sacrifice? A.
persecution to Bible believers in America before her Because the Eucharist, the Church’s sacrifice of praise
independence. The Virginia colony was Anglican, and in and thanksgiving, is the way by which the sacrifice of
1643, the governor unleashed persecution against Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his
dissenters. Many were whipped, branded, incarcerated, one offering of himself” (Book of Common Prayer). The
fined, and driven out of the colony. Handbook of Denominations in the United States observes
Between 1660 and 1689, some 70,000 men and that “the Episcopal Church [the American branch of the
women suffered under religious persecution; 8,000 Church of England] believes in the real presence of
perished; and tens of millions of dollars were paid in Christ in the elements of the Eucharist.” [See Church.]
fines. (The previous information about the persecution We can see, then, that though the Church of England
of the Church of England in the 17th century are is separate from the Catholic Church organizationally, it
adapted from Cushing Hassell, History of the Church of has clung to many of the false beliefs and practices of
God, 1886). Romanism.
The Anglican Church Today Modernism: In this century liberalism has largely
According to the London-based Anglican taken over the Anglican denomination. A large
Consultative Council, there are more than 70 million percentage of its bishops and pastors are modernists
Anglicans in 164 countries. The Episcopal Church in who deny the miracles of the Bible. Former Archbishop
America is part of the worldwide Anglican communion. of Canterbury Robert Runcie illustrates this sad trend. In
Though the Church of England claims a membership of an interview with a newspaper the editor picked up in
27 million, this counts every person who has been London on Easter 1982, Runcie was asked about the
baptized as an infant; only nine million have been meaning of the cross. He replied, “As to that, I am an
confirmed, and fewer than 1.7 million attend services agnostic.” Runcie was not certain of the meaning of the
even at Christmas or Easter when attendance is at its cross! In the same interview he said he felt Buddhism is
peak. a proper way to God and that Christians should not say
Though not under papal authority, many Catholic that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. Anglican
bishop David Jenkins openly questions every major
practices remain intact in the Church of England. teaching of the Bible. Of Christ’s resurrection, this
Episcopal church government: Anglican church Church of England bishop says, “The Christian is not
government is the unbiblical episcopal system—the local bound up with freak biology or corpses getting up and
church is governed by outside control through a walking around.” Of Christ’s virgin birth, Jenkins says,
hierarchy of priests and bishops. The highest Anglican “As for the virgin birth, they’re the sort of stories that get
bishop is called the Archbishop of Canterbury. [See told after you already believe somebody is very
Church.] important. You don’t have to believe in the virgin
Infant baptism: The Anglican Church practices infant birth...” [See Modernism.]
baptism, teaching that infants receive the Holy Spirit Ecumenism: For the past two decades or more many
and are regenerated through baptism. [See Baptism - Anglican leaders, including the archbishops, have been
Infant.] attempting to reconcile the Church of England with the
Ritualistic worship: The Anglican Church has a highly RCC. The Catholic pope visited England for the first
ritualistic form of worship foreign to that of the time in 1982 and held a joint meeting and service with
churches of the N.T. They use prayer books and follow a Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie. Runcie has
formal liturgy. Contrary to the apostolic pattern, they said, “We should like to see the churches of England,
have a special priesthood and seven sacraments Scotland, the United States and any other countries,
(Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Penance, Ordination, bound together in one body. If the pope would like to
Matrimony, and Healing). The sacraments are defined come in as chairman, we should all welcome him” (Why
as “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual Were Our Reformers Burned? p. 13). After three years of
grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by theological debate, the members of the Second
which we receive that grace” (The Book of Common Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission
Prayer). Thus, like the Catholic Church, the Anglican issued a statement which concluded that the doctrine of
Church falsely believes the sacraments to be channels of salvation taught by Rome and by Anglicanism is so close
Christ’s grace. The Lord’s Supper is called the “Holy that there need be no more division between them.
Eucharist” and is considered, not simply a memorial They are correct, of course, because both preach a false
meal, but an event in which Christ becomes present in

28 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity